Edd

For less than 10 surviving we have two ex-military and three civilian: Ex-RAF Unipower Industrial, believed to be the only one every supplied. 1938 Scammell Pioneer R100, so far the only pre-war gun tractor we have come across. I would be very happy if anyone can prove me wrong. Another one to look at would make the restoration a lot easier! On the civilian front the most noticeable is a one-off Landrover prototype. Although civvy it is bronze green. Cheers Ed

You can have a 750kg trailer behind a 7.5 ton truck if you have the older type licence. Although most caravans weigh more than this. If the whole outfit is under 7.5 ton then you are okay. The new version of this category (if you take the separate test) allows you up to 12 ton total including trailer with the truck under 7.5 ton. If you are going to have a dummy load then it needs to be secured in a way that it cannot be removed easily. The VOSA definition is that it must take workshop equipment to remove. Therefore welded or similar. If this is done then it is not a load and the vehicle is unladen. Some vehicles by definition cannot carry a load. My Unipower and our friends Diamond T are both classed as ballast tractors and therefore cannot carry a load. In the case of the Unipower this is easy - there is no space to put anything! Ed

If you have the new type car licence (post 95) then you can drive up to 3.5 tons. If you have the older licence you can drive up to 7.5 tons. You can tow a trailer but only certain combinations. If the vehicle you want to drive was manufactured before 1960 then it is a completely different set of rules. You can drive any wheeled vehicle so long as it is unloaded. You can also tow any trailer so long as it is unloaded. Example: My Unipower is 5.4 tons and technically is 1962. My girlfriend who has a post 95 licence can not drive it as it is over 3.5 tons and post 1960. My Pioneer is 10 tons and is 1938. My girlfriend can drive it as it is pre 1960. She can also tow an unloaded trailer behind it. If we had an Antar with trailer and it was pre 1960 then she could drive that. If we put a load on it we would then need an HGV licence. Hopefully that clarifies it. Cheers Ed

The pre-1960 exemption is for all car licences including post 95. My other half has the newer type and still has the pre-1960 exemption. Regards Ed

Hi Paul, To change taxation class there is a form on the DVLA website. Fill it in and then either send off to Swansea or far more sensible option is to go along to your local DVLA office. I did mine about two years ago and very straight forward and easy. The date for MOT exemption and to cover the pre-1960 driving exemption is done on the date of manufacture. Best bet is probably to go via the AEC owners club and they should have a dating officer. If not then you can go via the MVT. Once you can get that done you are free to drive it on your car licence and MOT exempt. Regards Ed

When we went to Dorset about 2 years ago there was still only 1 unipower although a big commercial line up and a relatively small military line up. If you want to see Unipowers it is worth going to South Cerney. We had 3 there this year and are hoping to have an additional couple next year. Ed

Hi David, Welcome to HMVF. Any chance of some photos? They are a massive vehicle so I can imagine a lot of challenges. Nice to see that a few have survived and that there is also now one in the UK. Cheers Ed

Reference the Sterling it would be as easy to drive on the road as transport, excluding fuel cost! Once you are overwidth you need to give 48 hours notice. Doesn't matter if it is on a trailer. This is how Antars, Pacifics and Commanders get driven on the road. There is now a fairly straightforward system that you can use for doing the notification. We looked into it when we were considering a vehicle that came in at 10ft wide. (For the record the Sterling is 10ft 1" wide and 12ft tall!). Ed

We have been having lots of electrical issues with the vehicles recently so it is time to invest in a decent battery charger. We need to charge everything from 12V car battery up to the large 24V truck batteries. For the number of batteries we have and their cost I don't mind spending quite a bit on the charger. Does anyone have any recommendations? Also I might be being stupid but where on earth can you get the width indicator poles that are sometimes fitted to commercial vehicles? Or are they called something different? They type I am after bolt or clamp to the wind and then have a pole with a round ball on the end. I need one for the unipower as you can't see the front passenger corner from the drivers seat. Thanks Ed

Hi Dave, Good luck in your search for a Pioneer. So far in my ownership of Pioneers I have found lots of helpful owners only too willing to give advice and point me in the right direction. The price of Pioneers has been going up a lot in the last few years and I think you will struggle to find a relatively complete one for under £2k. But with some patience it is possible. The very complete one that sold recently for just under £3k was an absolute bargain and I almost bought it myself! I'd make sure you go for one with a relatively good/complete engine, radiator and gearbox. Good tyres are always a bonus as the cost of them adds up very quickly! Do you have an idea as to what type of Pioneer you are after? Tank transporters tend to be the cheapest although they are the largest and slowest. Good luck Ed

Ah, it was Mike Burnes C8A I was thinking of. Saw him with it out at a show near my parents in the middle of May. The trip on to the beach was unique. I think we got a lot more than 30 vehicles on to the beach though! We travelled with the Morris Predictor and a Bedford MW. The Morris made a superb viewing platform! A nice convoy down the beach with the veterans and the tanks forming a spearhead. Very special memories. Ed

It was indeed an MVT site. The C8 HUB is still around in running order with the same owner. I saw it last month at a show with the owners military motorbike in the back and had a chat with the owner. Although I can not remember his name other than I think his first name is Michael. Ed

Hi John, Sounds like an interesting collection. I have an ex airfield construction branch Unipower ballast tractor. Although not sure if it every did any work for the RAF! Spent most of it's life at Heathrow. Whereabouts are you in the country? Cheers Ed

I've heard this type of cab referred to as a Park Royal cab. I assume it was from a particular coach builder but not sure if it was original fitment or not. I've seen this type fitted to a lot of the douglas modified ones. The Browns at Woodchester have a 6 wheeled douglas with this type of cab on it. Is the one you have seen a timber tractor? Ed

I thought it was about time that I scanned in and posted the photos I took in 1994 when we were in France for the 50th D-day commemorations. We went over as part of an MVT organised trip. I had to miss my A-level mock exams but definitely worth it. A friend, Robert, was taking two military vehicles over (Bedford MW and Morris Predictor) and kindly let my parents drive one over. I've put a few notes about the trip below which I hope are of interest. The photos are in a slightly random order as I did have 73 to scan in! Some of the photo quality leaves a bit to be desired but I thought it best to put them all in. I think I may have some more but not sure where. The trip started in Hampshire and we headed in convoy to Southsea Common. As we got near to Southsea the Morris broke down and was recovered by flat bed to Southsea. We were on an earlier ferry than the majority of vehicles and just managed to get the Morris running to get to the ferry. After we had arrived at the campsite and put tents up it was late at night. So we went for a wander down to the beach and got stopped by the Gendarmes. After explaining we were English they nodded in understanding and let us carry on! Waking up the next morning we were greeted by a line up of tank transporters and tanks parked on the road. They had arrived in France very early in the morning and included an American with his Stuart who had driven it from the ferry port to the site! The Scammell Pioneer tank transporter (the one for sale on ebay at the moment) was double headed by a Pioneer recovery due to people getting bored of 15mph top speed! Later in the week the main MVT convoy came over. This I think was probably the largest preservation military vehicle convoy. They filled the Duke de Normandy ferry. Watching at the site we saw a few hundred vehicles come up and turn into the campsite. Aided by a Diamond T (that had 'broken down') down towards the coast road blocking the road for traffic that would have got in the way of the convoy! The Gendarmes did promise to find something to move it but we didn't see them for the rest of the day! Also a tremendous job done by the outriders. We heard comments that the french police that were originally going to escort decided that the MVT outriders were doing a far better job! The campsite did become a bit of a mud bath but not a big problem with so many vehicles equipped for the conditions. GMC's running double front wheels, an american pickup driven by Hooky and many others keeping everything moving. Highlights of the trip included a convoy through Bayeux, tanks being washed on garage forecourts, visiting so many historical sites. Probably the biggest single highlight to me was a convoy onto the beach near the campsite. Part of this involved meeting a large number of veterans who had landed on that beach and then giving them a lift down to their official parade further along the beach. I don't think that was the original plan but it definitely made their day! The photos of the Pioneer towing a trailer in the mud and then being rescued by a high speed tractor is do with rescuing a tank which I think made the British papers in highly distorted fashion. I think the tank was invited by a Mayor to a village celebration but he assumed it would come on transporter. Needless to say there was probably some mistranslation or misunderstanding and I think the tank tore up some tarmac. Final outcome was a Diamond T and trailer from our site going off to pick up the tank. Overall it was an amazing experience and made even more so by the welcome we got from the French everywhere we went. Feel free to ask any questions and if you want copies of any of the photos let me know and I can e-mail them to you. Enjoy! Ed

Hi Richard, If you can get some made I think you will find quite high demand. I've got one original one but need at least two more and I know Jerry needs one for his tank transporter. I've got one that can be used as a template if needs be. Cheers Ed

I think they have been a bit busy. My membership has just come through and I originally did it about a month ago. Be patient and I'm sure it will be through soon. Ed

I think that private HGV is only applicable if you are not running hire and reward or as part of a business. Running an HGV as part of a business even if only to move your own kit I think entails having an O licence. If that's right then as Mark would not be running as a business the private HGV could apply. Ed